frozen octopus

After a big show the next thing after it feels a little flat (ex: rehearsal or show). If it is a rehearsal, it’s ok to do something easy.

Like our last rehearsal we practiced our set kinda slow.

We also dusted off an ancient song and tried it a new way.

We practiced a half hour less. We took a half hour walk after rehearsal instead. We talked business (ex: merch ordering schedules).

The important thing is we showed up and plugged in. At the same time we also respected that after an energy spike there is a trough. The higher the spike, the deeper the trough feels.

I just ran through the list of albums I listened to last week. So much good stuff but a few stuck out for me. The drums on the Cecil Taylor album was amazing. I went back to the song Air a few times. I was into the Tyla Gang album. One song had some marimba in the background that ruled. The Ex & Brass Unbound is an amazing album. They are one of the rare bands that get better with each album.

Hard to choose favorites. So much good music out there.

It's been fun setting up the podcast for our band. Four episodes into it, and I'm learning a lot. Noting some observations now while it is in its infancy. Future me can come back to this and have a laugh or a think.

Length

Started the podcast with every intention of it being short. With each episode, I am noticing a temptation to make it longer and longer. An intro here...an ad there...and then the episode is long.

If future me is reading this and the show is now an hour long, you need to get it back to ten minutes or less.

Outside Influence

When I was searching for answers on how to get my podcast XML file to validate, a lot of "how to make a podcast" links popped up. I clicked around a few and was quickly bored. So much about how to make podcasting "pro". Not so much about how to have fun.

If future me is reading this and the show sounds like a talk show right now, you need to get it back to the first four episodes vibe.

Intention

We have listeners that speak Japanese, English, a little or a lot of both, and neither. I am fully aware of this and am keeping it in mind with each episode. I want there to be something to enjoy no matter what languages you speak. It is more of a challenge than just getting on the mic and yammering for a while. I think some people are going to think we are trying to be art-y, but for real, it's all about making things that can be enjoyed anywhere.

If future me is reading this, can everyone still find something in the show to enjoy?

Links

Podcast Feed: https://1000sofcats.band/public/feeds/podcast.xml

Website: https://1000sofcats.band

One of my favorite shortcuts I made is the Weather Icon. It is a simple four step shortcut but it is so reusable in other shortcuts.

For example, I have a shortcut I run for when I greet my colleagues in the morning. It chooses a random salutation and runs the Weather Icon shortcut to get the weather.

Steps

1. Get current weather at Current Location
2. Get Condition from Weather Conditions
3. Dictionary w/ the Keys being the weather conditions (list below). Value is the actual emoji.
4. Get Value for Condition in Dictionary

Weather Conditions ¹

• Clear
• Mostly Sunny
• Sunny
• Cloudy
• Partly Cloudy
• Mostly Cloudy
• Rain
• Showers
• Thunderstorms
• Snow
• Hail
• Sleet
• Blowing Snow
• Fog
• Haze
• Dust
• Smoke
• Windy
• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Drizzle
• Overcast
• Freezing Rain
• Freezing Drizzle
• Flurries
• Hot
• Cold
• Blizzard
• Ice Pellets
• Sandstorm

¹ Not sure if this list is complete or not. Seems to be working though.

I had friends in town so I couldn't review week eight last Monday. Looking back on two weeks of albums today. Here are the albums I can still hear in my head:

• Nahida Akhtar Best of Nahid Akhtar 87 #playbacksinging
• Walter Franco Revólver #MPB
• Johnny Preston Rock #rock
• Joe Pass For Django #jazz
• Super Heroines Souls That Save #punk
• Terry Riley Shri Camel #electronic

What are you listening to? Point me to your list. Don't have a list of music you are listening to? The best day to start one is  today.